Clear Channel Takes On Pandora

Lady Gaga, Coldplay, Alicia Keys, Steven Tyler, The Black Eyed Peas and Kenny Chesney are just some of A-list names appearing in Las Vegas in September to celebrate the official launch of the company’s new iHeartRadio service.

Scheduled for Sept. 23-24 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena and hosted by “American Idol” master or ceremonies Ryan Seacrest, the lineup for the iHeartRadio Music Festival pretty much includes almost every artist that’s ever received heavy rotation from Clear Channel’s music radio stations, including John Mayer, Jennifer Lopez, Usher, Sting, Carrie Underwood, Jane’s Addiction, Nicki Minaj, David Guetta, Bruno Mars, Kelly Clarkson, Sublime With Rome and more.

Clear Channel is calling the two-day festival “the largest concert event in radio history,” and will stream audio and video via its iHeartRadio service and through the company’s radio stations’ websites. It’s all part of Clear Channel’s push to take on Pandora Radio as it ramps up its online radio service to combine more than 750 of its broadcast radio and digital-only stations from 150 cities to create a fully integrated service.

“Music is the heart of our business and we think there is no better way to celebrate the launch of the new iHeartRadio than with a groundbreaking, multi-day festival featuring the world’s biggest, most exciting artists – and reaching the largest combined U.S. radio and online audience ever. This underscores Clear Channel’s transformation to a dynamic integrated media and entertainment company with an unmatched reach in the U.S.,” Clear Channel Radio’s Chairman of Media and Entertainment Platforms, Bob Pittman, said in a statement. “The new iHeartRadio will offer users a much broader, more integrated and customized digital listening experience than any other service available – and it’s all in one product.”

Here’s how the iHeartRadio Music Festival line is shaping up. Friday, Sept. 23 features Coldplay, Alicia Keys, The Black Eyed Peas, John Mayer, Carrie Underwood, Bruno Mars and Jane’s Addiction. On Saturday, Sept. 24 look for performances by Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Steven Tyler, Kenny Chesney, Nicki Minaj, Rascal Flatts, Kelly Clarkson, David Guetta and Sublime with Rome.

The Sept. 24 lineup also distinguishes Sting and Usher by describing the artists’ appearances as “special guest performances.”